Nina Simone Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The filing says the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered.
- Its grants focus on children's music education, and its priority geography is South Africa; Libaia; Ghana, so work in that area and field is the fit to check.
- Most of its grants fall in a typical band of $29,000 to $585,000, with a median of $180,000, though its largest grant was about $650,000, so a request near the middle of that band suits the usual pattern.
- In the filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, so this is a relationship-led funder where renewals dominate.
Overview
Nina Simone Charitable Trust is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, San Pasqual Fiduciary Trust Company, in Los Angeles, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Trust’s filed grants support music education for children. The recorded purposes describe music education of children in South Africa, musical education for children in Ghana, and musical education for children more generally. The grants went to organisations including music academies, a field-band foundation and other music organisations. Music education of children in South Africa accounts for the largest purpose group by recorded grant value, while the remaining purposes also focus on children’s musical learning. The grant record therefore reflects a focused commitment to children’s music education delivered through charitable organisations.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Children’s music education
Geographic Focus
Priority: South Africa; Libaia; Ghana. From its grants, not stated by the foundation: California.
How to apply
The filing says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and gives no public application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 11 grants to organisations were $180,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 95%
- The largest single recipient received 70% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Nina Simone Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- 95% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (South Africa).
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Field Band Foundation · Music education of children in south africa$650,3422024 tax year
- Kronendal Music Academy of Hout Bay · Musical education of children$195,0002024 tax year
- Playing for Change Foundation · Musical education for children in ghana$65,3092024 tax year
- Music Works · Musical education for children in south africa$31,4812024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
Administered by its trustee, San Pasqual Fiduciary Trust Company.
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,073,351 | $772,027 | $16,192,997 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,158,173 | $858,453 | $18,598,794 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,244,317 | $942,132 | $21,128,473 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Nina Simone Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA (office of its trustee, San Pasqual Fiduciary Trust Company)
Applying to Nina Simone Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Los Angeles, CA (office of its trustee, San Pasqual Fiduciary Trust Company)